butter bean
noun
1
chiefly Southern US and Midland US
a
: lima bean sense 2
Note: The name butter bean is used chiefly for either a small white or pale green lima bean or a large white to tannish lima bean.
For heartier appetites, a pair of succulent spring lamb chops cozy up to baby herbed lima beans (sometimes known as butter beans).—
Better Homes and Gardens
Better Homes and Gardens… we sampled big, silk-textured butter beans shimmering in their juices …—Jane and Michael Stern
Jane and Michael Stern
b
: a plant (Phaseolus lunatus) that bears butter beans
2
: wax bean
3
: a green shell bean especially as opposed to a snap bean
Examples of butter bean in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His family is partial to his lemony butter beans and glazed carrots with lime juice and butter.
—Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025
White beans: 71 mg per half-cup Like other bean varieties, white beans—which include fiber-rich navy beans, butter beans, cannellini beans, and Great Northern beans—are absolutely jam-packed with nutrients, including calcium.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 19 Feb. 2025
Practically, this means dishes like tuna crudo with sweet drop peppers, cucumbers, and caper aioli; grilled octopus with butter bean puree; and tagliatelle with conch and stone crab with tomatoes, shallot, and a broth made with Kalik, a local beer.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2025
The vegetables were never cemented, but most recipes call for lima or butter beans, potatoes, corn, and okra.
—Craig Ruff, Southern Living, 19 Jan. 2025
Dishes include fresh tuna steak in olive oil and codfish filet with butter beans.
—Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2025
Dietary options: Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian Meal examples: Italian butter bean stew with croutons and Parmesan kale; creamy peanut noodles with gingered green beans and lime; green veggie burgers with tzatziki and garlic fries.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 23 Dec. 2024
Lima Beans Lima beans, also known as butter beans, contain 13.41 grams of protein per cup.
—Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 11 Oct. 2024
Yes, butter beans and lima beans are the same thing.
—Darcy Lenz, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2024
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Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025
White beans: 71 mg per half-cup Like other bean varieties, white beans—which include fiber-rich navy beans, butter beans, cannellini beans, and Great Northern beans—are absolutely jam-packed with nutrients, including calcium.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 19 Feb. 2025
Practically, this means dishes like tuna crudo with sweet drop peppers, cucumbers, and caper aioli; grilled octopus with butter bean puree; and tagliatelle with conch and stone crab with tomatoes, shallot, and a broth made with Kalik, a local beer.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2025
The vegetables were never cemented, but most recipes call for lima or butter beans, potatoes, corn, and okra.
—Craig Ruff, Southern Living, 19 Jan. 2025
Dishes include fresh tuna steak in olive oil and codfish filet with butter beans.
—Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2025
Dietary options: Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian Meal examples: Italian butter bean stew with croutons and Parmesan kale; creamy peanut noodles with gingered green beans and lime; green veggie burgers with tzatziki and garlic fries.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 23 Dec. 2024
Lima Beans Lima beans, also known as butter beans, contain 13.41 grams of protein per cup.
—Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 11 Oct. 2024
Yes, butter beans and lima beans are the same thing.
—Darcy Lenz, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Butter bean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butter%20bean. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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